The Barbados senior national football team has been dealt another blow ahead of its first match against No. 78-ranked Panama in the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qualifiers on March 26 in the Dominican Republic at the Estadio Olimpico Feliz Sanchez.
Overseas-based striker Nick Blackman, who was named in the 24-man squad last week, was ruled out due to travel restrictions because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 31-year-old Maccabi Tel Aviv forward was expected to join the team this week.
Coach Russell Latapy told Nation Sport it was a similar situation to Thierry Gale and Hallam Hope who were also picked, but were unable to travel because borders were closed or quarantine would make them unavailable to the professional sides when they returned.
Barbados are drawn in Group D in the opening round of the qualifiers and will take on Anguilla on March 29 before returning home to play Dominica and the Dominican Republic in June.
Barbados has not played a competitive match in a full year and national training was restricted due to the current COVID-19 directive imposed by Government. (AGB)
